Mayor signs name to 'take back Anaheim'

May 9, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, seated, signs a voter initiative that would require a public vote on any tax subsidy used for private development. Dr. Patricia Adelekan, at right, holds a sign endorsing the effort. The media event promoting the drive was held outside the Anaheim Target store at Euclid Street and Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mayor Tom Tait greets supporters of an initiative that would require a public vote on a tax subsidy used for private development. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, at far left, addresses supporters of a voter initiative while supporters hold signs such as "Let's Not Make a Deal." H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Anaheim Councilwoman Lorri Galloway speaks to Larry Larsen with the "Let the People Vote" effort. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Councilwoman Lorri Galloway was among those who signed a voter initiative that would require a public vote on a tax subsidy used for private development Wednesday outside Target in Anaheim. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Larry Larsen, one of the main proponents of the "Let the People Vote" drive, talks about out why he supports a voter initiative that would require a public vote on a tax subsidy used for private development. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Larry Larsen, one of the main proponents of the "Let the People Vote" effort, signs a voter initiative Wednesday. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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"Let the People Vote" supporters gathered outside an Anaheim Target store at Euclid Street and Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday. They got support from Mayor Tom Tait. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mayor Tom Tait, at left, prepares to sign a voter initiative that would require a public vote on an tax subsidy used for private development. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, seated, signs a voter initiative that would require a public vote on any tax subsidy used for private development. Dr. Patricia Adelekan, at right, holds a sign endorsing the effort. The media event promoting the drive was held outside the Anaheim Target store at Euclid Street and Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday. H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – Mayor Tom Tait signed his name – and lent his influence – Wednesday to a ballot initiative that the campaign calls "Take back Anaheim."

Tait and Councilwoman Lorri Galloway joined initiative backers at a planned event outside the Target store on Euclid Street and Lincoln Avenue. They signed an initiative calling for a public vote on any proposed use of city tax funds as an incentive for private development.

"As mayor, I am still a citizen of Anaheim and I'm expressing my rights as a citizen to say that I think this was a bad deal for Anaheim, and the public should have a say in the future," Tait said.

Galloway and Tait were the minority in a 3-2 vote in January – a vote that gives a private developer up to $158 million in tax subsidies over 15 years to build two luxury hotels at GardenWalk, near Disneyland. That approval has sharply divided the City Council and many in the community.

Backers of the tax subsidy, including the Chamber of Commerce, say the project will create thousands of construction jobs and up to 1,300 ongoing jobs; and they say the project would generate tax revenues on what otherwise would remain dirt lots.

Opponents call it a "giveaway," saying it would divert money from much-needed city services.

But the initiative, called "Let the People Vote," won't reverse that hotel subsidy – it would only apply to future developments.

To qualify the initiative, backers must collect signatures from 10 percent of Anaheim voters – about 14,000. Those must be submitted and confirmed by July 24 to qualify a measure for the November ballot.

"I think the mayor is well-liked in the community and very credible," said resident Larry Larsen, one of the primary backers of the initiative. "Having his support is vital."

Opponents of the initiative said they plan to go door-to-door and intend to attend community meetings, saying it is a "no-growth" measure that would force potential development out of town.

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